please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
This is now a chef & brewer place. Big pub with lots of room. Standard C&B fare, special offers on food lunchtimes Mon-Sat, food all OK but nothing really special. Doombar, Pride & TEA on, Doombar was fine, didn't try the others. Can't say why but I didn't really enjoy the place, it just didn't seem very welcoming.
|
I had lunch in the garden at the Prince of Wales pub today. I was very disappointed. The staff were unenthusiastic and untrained in bar skills or customer service.
We waited 25 minutes for 3 sandwiches on a quiet Monday lunchtime. When I complained, I was just looked at sullenly, told that there was no manager and if I rang nobody would answer the phone. A girl said she was in charge and on hearing my complaint said 'OK then' - no apology and certainly no gesture to put it right.
The food was awful - the deli sandwiches were exactly the same as the doorstep sandwich - two plain pieces of bread with an apology for a filling. My cat could make a better sandwich. The chips were overcooked and made up of the scrappings from the bottom of the fryer.
A terrible experience overall.
|
Went with a party of 15 pre booked, our table was ready an hour after the booked time, it was a Sunday and very busy. Not a problem, we waited outside in the garden with a round of drinks. We all ordered starters which arrived 50 minutes after ordering, however, the food was amazing. All 15 people agreed with their choice and all plates were returned completely empty. The main courses arrived promptly after the starter plates were cleared and once again all the food was of excellent quality.
The service for drinks was incredibly slow, both for drinks served to the table and for drinks ordered at the bar, the staff not knowing about how to prepare or even what they stocked didn't help matters. At one stage the lady who took my order wandered off and performed several other tasks around the pub before returning to prepare my drinks while I was left standing waiting. Very strange.
|
OK, it was an Easter Sunday that I finally stopped my boycott of this pub (after 6 years).
I went today, and was lucky to get a table in this 2 month old refurbished Ikea. What a disappointment.
The staff were overworked and underpaid, but very helpful. I was near enough to the bar to get my own menu and order the drinks first.
The pub was full of 40 somethings with their kids and parents. No trouble there, just very loud.
The character of the old Prince of Wales has gone. The layout is still the same, and very nice for it. Unfortunately, it's been given a cheap whitewash, and looks as exciting as Ikea Croydon on a bad day. Where there were once a nice big party table, you now have a party bench!
The food is meat friendly. You have 1 option as a veggie, and it's a Black bomber cheddar risotto at �11.75! Where's the good veg in all that glue? Most unimaginative. Big profit margins.
I ordered the fish pie at �12.95. It was a small bowl of mash and carrots with some overcooked prawns, salmon and 1 piece of white fish. This was served with a separate bowl of soya beans. Thankfully, the beans had real mint on it.
The chef must have been drinking, as I only tasted salt. It was highly salted, but no other taste. I was so underwhelmed.
Did bring this up with the manager. He listened. Said 98% like our meals. I told him this 2% didn't. He was not tuned into helping our plight. In fact, he made it worse by giving us a bill, with other dinner's drinks added on. Paid and politely left. I will never returned. It was overpriced and over seasoned food. Not recommended.
|
The place has now been completely refurbished and looks very welcoming inside, as well as much bigger!! Still a great wine selection. Food is pricey but very good quality. Brilliant place to go in the summer, and very friendly staff! The assistant manager is a particularly welcoming guy!
|
This place is terrible. Thankfully the awful managers they had there previously have been kicked out, but its not much better now. staff look miserable, food is served cold and quite often takes up to an hour to arrive.
this place could be so much better...needs new, enthusiastic staff and a set of friendly managers.
even the locals dont go there anymore.
|
I took a party of 19 to this pub, which used to be very good, for lunch on a Monday. Pre-booked tables reserved for us.
Bar staff worked fast and were helpful but restaurant service was poor with starters eventually served after main courses had been offered but returned.
Main courses finished by most people before starters arrived for those who ordered them. For people ordering starters, their main courses were served eventually with warm and cold areas, where they had been re-heated in a microwave I assume.
Manageresss appeared indifferent to complaints.
I think this place must be under new management as it used to be a really good pub with great service from all staff. Sadly I shall not return.
|
I took a party of 19 to this pub, which used to be very good, for lunch on a Monday. Pre-booked tables reserved for us.
Bar staff worked fast and were helpful but restaurant service was poor with starters eventually served after main courses had been offered but returned.
Main courses finished by most people before starters arrived for those who ordered them. For people ordering starters, their main courses were served eventually with warm and cold areas, where they had been re-heated in a microwave I assume.
Manageresss appeared indifferent to complaints.
I think this place must be under new management as it used to be a really good pub with great service from all staff. Sadly I shall not return.
|
Large pub, family friendly with all that entails. Big decking area outside. Pride, Hen and Bombardier and also Leffe Blonde and Staropramen. Can't complain about the service I received.
|
Have been eating here for several years.
Until the other week,
Pasta-overcooked
Chicken- dry tastless.
When i complained the staff was less than helpful.
I asked if it had changed hands they said "yes".
I will never be eating there again-totally umimpressed with the new staff and management.
Gone down hill V
0/10
|
That should say really friendly waiting STAFF
|
Had a really nice meal here one weekday evening. Really friendly waiting , cosy table, would definitely recommend it.
|
I went there 2 week ago I order rare tuna with noodle salad it was really nice only down the service really bad not like it used to be
|
I was really looking forward to Sunday lunch here, but was very disappointed. My family were there early and were trampled on by over-eager punters looking for tables, but at least it showed the place was popular. Sat family down, and ordered some drinks, the waitress was already taking orders as I got back. Had a few sips and went to the loo, came back and food was on the table! All in a record time of 10mins. The food had clearly prepared hours before, and sat on a hot plate, and tasted like it as well. The beef was particularly of poor quality. I suggest to the people on this site wanting quicker food service, to get here earlier. We were out of the pub within 45minutes due to punters hovering over us waiting for our table. They obviously think the place is great, bless them.
Pros: Big garden outside if its not raining (which it was)
|
I went in here for lunch today and was delighted by my experience. I ordered a tea which was bought to the table by a lovely smart and friendly waiter and cae complete with a time to tell me when the tea was brewed!! I ordered a cheese and chutney sandwich (at the table) which was bought out within about 10 minutes. The lady behind the bar did say they had been unusually busy for a Monday, but it wasn't noticeable at about 3pm - the place was very tidy, food was excellent and the staff extremely friendly.
|
I've been here with friends a few times over the past year and each time the food has been good, but not good enough to justify the high restaurant prices.
The menu is large but, despite some imaginative dishes, the presentation is average and is definitely that of pub grub, so why the high prices?
Each time I've visited the POW the wait for food has been unacceptably long, even when the pub isn't particularly busy but I'll go back again as the pub has that rare thing called ambience, plus it's right on the edge of West End Common which is very picturesque.
|
More a restaurant than a proper pub these days. Vast menu with reasonable grub, expect long waits at busy times. Lots of foreign staff who haven't a clue about pouring proper ale. Quality of the beer is variable, have had a number of dodgy pints in here.Hardly worth pointing this out as the staff don't know anything about the stuff.
|
Excellent for an evening out with friends in a smoke-free environment with a leisurely meal. Wide selection of wines, massive menu and friendly / helpful service. Top quality food. But not a suitable place to go if you're in a hurry; or on your own.
|
Pros: Nice looking pub with good location on green, pleasent staff, good sized beer garden and good looking menu, guest beers also on tap, open hearth fire and traditional 'feel' without been completely pretentious about it.
Cons: Increasingly expensive, quality of food is nose diving and has been for the past couple of years (I've eaten there for a long time). Rather abrupt management, long waits for food as it gets very busy, particularly on Sundays and particularly in summer.
|
Well, what can i say.. What a truley unrushed exit of my cold fish!!, bad delivery by foreign staff.. when complaining to the manager of the pub, a rather rude manageress whom had no customer service skills appologised for the lengthy delay, offered no replacement of my discusting meal and had a 'it's because we're busy' excuse..
So, i guess if you like cold shriveled fish served with european attitude and a rude manageress (if they aren't busy).. you may be in luck..
Roll on new management.
|
Good pub with restaurant. Location on West End green good and outdoor garden very nice on sunny days.
Food is generally good, not outstanding, but a few times we have had a miss.
Went for Christmas dinner there this past year and they did a good job and service was good.
|
Great food...and the garden is well nice in summer!
|
My second favourite Esher pub and probably my favourite to eat at... Proper food that is relatively inexpensive and hot barmaids. How can you go wrong?!
...oh and just go after 9pm if youre worried about kids, theyre all in bed by then anyways. you whingers. :P
|
lovely looking pub staff friendly chips were awful tasted of mc'dons? why?? will go for drink not too sure if risk food again.
anonymous - 27 Jul 2005 17:54 |
Went there Sunday evening 8pm, no reservation. Got the last table, but virtually everyone in the building was eating. So true, not a pub but a restaurant with a bar.
PROS: Great summer Englsih location by the pond, great beer, greast setting
CONS: Wait at least 45 minutes for food from aggressive eastern european waitresses, and dodge numerous excitable 9 year olds.
When WILL kids under 14 be banned from pubs? I'd go to MacDonalds if I wanted toddlers running around my feet, though Mac's dont serve Guinness.
Lawrence - 20 Sep 2004 14:45 |
Great location, garden, building - why the hell is the food so poor?? Last year the fish menu was fantastic and worth the high prices - now it's a massive menu with poor quality and absurdly priced. This pub is being wasted, it could be an absol classic.
anonymous - 18 Sep 2004 14:03 |
The staff are hard working but they are also inefficient - the best meal I had here was on Boxing Day when it was reservations only so they weren't overwhelmed. Otherwise I've had orders lost and waited hours for food. Despite this the choice of drinks and location means I keep coming back
Ciar�n - 26 Aug 2004 15:55 |
The staff may well work hard, but at the weekends you will wait at least an hour for very over priced food.
bearman - 14 Apr 2004 07:41 |
Great location right on the green and nice looking inside and out. However, the place gets rammed and food is slow and expensive. The whole place is one big restaurant at the w/e, and you need to get there early for a table. Not bad for a few beers in the evening, but not convenient unless you drive or take a taxi. Esher is close by for alternative post-pub eats.
anonymous - 6 Jan 2004 11:41 |
It's not a pub, it's a restaurant, and a shabby one at that. If I want to wait over an hour for food (yes every time), then I'll cook it at home.
Scotty Boy - 24 Dec 2003 13:38 |
interesting thread of comments. i gave the first comment in June. I agree some of the staff do work hard. The staff that are good are not given the chance to appear good because the management are inefficient. I don't think my honest comments deserved my being called arrogant.
Anyway, popped in there today to have a look. I spoke to some of the customers. It's no better.
Verdict - Stay away until new management get a better result. Perhaps they could let us know via this website.
|
Insulting your customers by calling them arrogant, well that's a new angle on customer service. Maybe this is the attitude that comes across to them. Why not take their comments seriously? They have at least taken the trouble to express their views and I don't think they were offensive.
I logged onto this site becuase I went to the pub today for the first time and....guess what? I had to wait 2 hours for food! Well things haven't got any noticeably better under the new managemnt. Chef & Brewer take note.
On the other hand perhaps I am arrogant as well!
|
The staff are so called "Inefficient" because of arrogant customers who think they are above the rest because they have a little money. If you look around they are working EXTREMALLY HARD, especially over the weekends. The pub has gone through so bad patches recently because of chef problems. Presently the food is excellent and remains to be
Thomas - 13 Sep 2003 17:50 |
Too many aggrogant customer go here that annoy all staff. Great food, great beer, new managment coming soon.........watch this space
anonymous - 13 Sep 2003 17:39 |
Great location. Incompetent staff. I agree with the first comment, go there when there's a new landlord.
john - 16 Jul 2003 00:36 |
A nice and warmly pub, they got a young swedish lad (Gustav) working there. Good food and a lot of nice beers, but as said before don�t be half starved when you get there. You will be starved too death when you leave.
Classe "The Swede" - 26 Jun 2003 02:18 |
Beautiful, old pub by large green and duck pond. Owned by Chef & Brewer. Spoilt by inefficient staff and poorly organised kitchen. You can wait over an hour for food. Staff think this is okay and then clear away food before you have finished. Go there when there's new management.
|
